But before you head out for this year's supplies, check out these low-cost ways to get the most out of your garden this year.

— BACK TO THE EARTH: Making your own compost to fertilize the garden is an eco-friendly way to cut costs — and it means you know exactly what's in your soil amendment: leaves, grass cuttings and food waste including coffee grounds, vegetable peelings and fruit.

"Compost not only adds important nutrients and beneficial bacteria to soil, it recycles waste, reducing pollution and ground water contamination," says Kathy Woodard, editor of TheGardenGlove.com, a website that offers budget gardening advice.

You can start a compost pile for free in a corner of your yard. But making or buying a compost system will likely yield better results and attract fewer pests. Some, like worm composting systems, can even be kept on a porch and work for households without yard space, just potted plants.

Kevin Measel, vice president of merchandising for nursery for Lowe's Cos., says the compost system you'll need will depend on your household's size and eating habits. For a family of four that regularly prepares fresh vegetables, he suggests a tumbler that spins the compost to add air; they're approximately 7 cubic feet, less than 2 by 2 by 2.

Woodard suggests using a garbage can with a tight lid: Just roll it around every couple days, and your compost will be ready in about three weeks. Two- or three-bin systems are better for larger households, as the compost gradually moves through the bins to allow room for new compost to be started.

"These systems can be anything from a plastic storage bin picked up at a garage sale to a bin with three sides created out of wooden pallets or scrap lumber," Woodard says.

Before buying anything, though, check with your county or city government for steeply discounted bins and other composting supplies.

EXTRA HINT: Make sure to let your compost mature, which Measel says can take as little as a month or as long as a year, depending how much you work the material.

— WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT H2O: Instead of pulling out the hose to quench your garden's thirst and driving up your water bill, consider these ways to conserve and reuse water.

You could collect rain water by directing a gutter downspout into a trash can. Use a watering can to disperse the water when your garden's thirsty.

"Or you can install a cistern and collect thousands of gallons," Measel says.

Or you can create a drip irrigation system fed by specially made rain barrels. Drip irrigation systems get water to plants' roots, giving them a constant moisture supply and making them less susceptible to weather and insect damage, according to Woodard.

Cities are increasingly allowing residents to install systems to reuse "gray" water that drains from the shower, bath or dishwasher. But you can start reusing water right away, even if you live in an apartment.

"Think about something as simple as reusing the water you wash your vegetables or fruits with to water your houseplants," Measel says.

EXTRA HINT: No matter how you choose to cut your water use, remember not to water during peak daylight hours because that's when water evaporates fastest.

— FLOWERS, VEGETABLES & MORE: Starting plants from seed is typically cheaper than buying seedlings. Just allow plenty of time by planting seeds early. For extra savings, Woodard suggests plants that self-seed — drop seeds after they flower — to keep your garden growing in the future at little cost.

Measel recommends using empty egg cartons to start seedlings early indoors and deploying popsicle sticks to mark your plants. For scooping soil, use a plastic half-gallon milk jug cut in half, he adds.

And, instead of buying pots to hold your maturing plants, look around the house and the yard for items that can be reused, like baskets, a wheelbarrow, an old tea pot or a favorite bowl that's been chipped.

For next year's garden, take note of what's most successful this year, cull seeds from the most prolific candidates and save them. (Empty pill bottles or baby food jars work great for storing seeds, suggests Measel).

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EXTRA HINT: If you're in the mood for something new, talk to neighbors about starting an annual plant exchange. It's just like a clothing swap; anyone who contributes a seedling, clipping, seeds or other items you choose to include wins the opportunity to take home something new.